The Verge confirms an earlier story by Mary Jo Foley. "Microsoft is preparing to revive the traditional Start button it killed with Windows 8. Sources familiar with Microsoft's plans have revealed to The Verge that Windows 8.1 will include the return of the Start button. We understand that the button will act as a method to simply access the Start Screen, and will not include the traditional Start Menu. The button is said to look near-identical to the existing Windows flag used in the Charm bar."

The Verge hasn't CONFIRMED anything. The Verge is spreading rumors by siting 'sources familiar with Microsoft's plans', ...
RUMOR: Windows 8.1 set to bring back the Start button

Ok well, Mary J Foley pretty much verified this last week.

It was the wrong strategy to completely remove the start button without giving people a fallback option. All previous versions of windows gave people the ability to fallback to previous UI designs. Why should Win8 be different!